Are Medical Vacations Right for Me?

 Is Medical Tourism Right for Me?

Medical tourism isn't necessarily for everyone.  Make sure you know the benefits and dangers of receiving treatment abroad. 

It's important to understand that medical tourism is not for everyone.  In the US, for example, there are certain procedures that few countries can match when it comes to quality and price.  Also, for patients who are looking for early diagnoses, it doesn't always make sense to travel abroad in order to have a doctor look them over.  However, taking a medical vacation is an excellent option for many.

A Medical Vacation Might Be an Excellent Option for You If:

1. You are planning on taking a vacation anyway and want to receive a health checkup, operation, or treatment.
2. You have a difficult time affording health care in your home country because:
   • You lack insurance.
   • Your insurance company won't cover the cost of your procedure.
   • Even with insurance, the procedure is too high
3. You're on a long waiting list for a certain procedure, physician, or medical facility in your home country.
4. Your home country does not offer the treatment(s) or procedure(s) that you require.
5. You want to receive affordable care without sacrificing quality.
6. You need or desire a medical procedure that requires several days/weeks of recuperation.  This is especially popular for those looking to have cosmetic or plastic surgery performed.
7. You simply love to travel and want to see more of the world.

Many countries with socialized medicine have unusually long wait times coupled with copious amount of regulatory paperwork and bureaucratic red tape.  Not surprisingly, countries such as England have actually begun encouraging their citizens to receive medical attention abroad due to the shorter waiting times and lower costs. 

Medical Tourism Can Save You Money

In the United States, wait times are usually quite reasonable, but Americans have other incentives for going abroad to receive medical treatment.  In 2006, the Census Bureau indicated that 46.6 million Americans had no medical insurance.  An additional 120 million were without dental insurance.  Thus, it's easy to see why more than 500,000 Americans took medical and dental vacations that year.  If you're someone who doesn't want to break the bank or wait a long time for medical treatment, then a medical vacation might be right for you.